Ciao!

I can't believe it has been 3 weeks already! The exchange is complete and my new friends have dispersed all over the world :( We actually became really close and made some amazing friends from all over the world. Our last trip all together was a day trip to Venice which was exciting enough but after these 3 weeks it was really sad to have to say goodbye :(

On Thursday we departed from Trento at 7.30 to make the just under 3-hour trip to Venice. So of course that meant us getting on the bus to Trento at 5.58!!! Finally the last time I would have to make my early morning trip (the only thing I won't miss!).

Strangely enough Antonella decided NOT to join us for the trip claiming it was too hot for her and instead put Danielle's host 18 year old Deborah in charge! Deborah is so gorgeous but can get a little stressed easily and don't know if Antonella should have put her under the stress of coordinating 40 people to Venice which she has only been to twice! Don't worry I will reveal the outcome now- she did a FAB job and there were no dramas thanks to Deborah :)

So a lot of the people who were not used to being up so early automatically resumed their sleep on the bus ride there. We were so excited to get there and see it and discussed our plan of attack. With no tour guide and no tours planned for once we were given the WHOLE day just to explore Venice! Definitely the best way. I had initially decided not to pay the ridiculous amount to go on a gondola which I had experienced a couple of times. But with no formal tours it seemed the best option and most traditional way to see the beautiful city! Luckily we tracked down a gondola that was only 80 euro for 4 people for half an hour apposed to the rumoured 150 for 15 minutes! So I forked out the 20 euro with Danielle, Chiara and Breanna and joined Roberto our gondola man for our tour. So glad I did in the end.

It was the most gorgeous summers day in Venice. Very Australian hot so not too overwhelming for me but meant you could really enjoy the sun :) So we spent the morning walking around the streets, going on gondola rides and trying to track down an inexpensive eatery. Unsuccessfully. Then in the afternoon we tried tracking down and inexpensive drinkery for our daily spritz, also unsuccessfully! It is ridiculous there! But we splurged on our guilty pleasures living by the motto 'we're in Venice!'

After exploring the tiny streets and for some spending a LOT of money we all grouped back together to make the journey home. I was definitely on a Venice high, not needing a disco nap while a lot of the group again took the chance to just sleep. Instead Marco, from Brazil who hardly speaks any English, and I sat and listened to songs on my ipod! Something you can do in any language :)

When we returned to Trento we went out to enjoy a post tour drink before we all had to part ways! It was so weird saying goodbye to people who we surprisingly became really good friends with! All tied by the common thread of our Trentini origins :) I will never forget my amazing Trentini experience and the incredible friendships I made xx